DESCRIBED AS the biggest integration the UK dairy industry has ever seen, Müller has announced that its merger of Dairy Crest’s dairy operations into its own is now complete, creating Müller Milk and Ingredients, which now purchases 25% of Britain’s farm gate milk.

The chief executive of the merged business, Patrick Müller, said: “This business acquired Dairy Crest’s liquid milk dairies to build scale and unlock greater efficiencies and benefit for customers. Bringing these two very large organisations together has been a huge and unprecedented task with multiple challenges; requiring the alignment of multiple systems and processes.

“I am delighted to say that our team has now delivered a single organisation and platform for the future, on the schedule which we initially set out. We now have a competitive and unique proposition having invested heavily in highly efficient factories which optimise energy, water and wastage; and in a comprehensive logistics network.

“In agriculture we are innovating strongly to ensure that dairy farmers can opt to protect themselves from the corrosive effects of extreme market volatility, and in farming’s next generation so that they are equipped and inspired to run dairy businesses which become exemplars for our industry," said Mr Müller.

“We are now ready to realise our vision to be Britain’s dairy leader. And with Brexit looming, we will offer certainty," he added. "Our customers know that our UK manufacturing footprint gives continuity, security of supply with products which are sourced from British farms, and manufactured here in Britain.”

Brian Watson has been appointed as chief finance officer for MMI. He joins the business from Marmon, a $7.7bn Berkshire Hathaway company operating in the supermarket and food service sector.